Sir Alex Ferguson promised to present Alan Smith with a Carling Cup winners' medal after Manchester United demolished Wigan in the final.

United players lifted the season's first trophy in t-shirts bearing the slogan "For You Smudge", after their win in Cardiff.

Smith was forced to watch the game at home on television after an operation to repair his badly broken leg last week.

Ferguson said: "It was the players' idea to wear the t-shirts. The message was appropriate. He deserved that. He had a bad injury just a week before the final.

"I don't know how many medals we get but, if we need to apply for another one for him, we will.

"He showed unbelievable courage last week. He took courage to a whole new level as far as I'm concerned and that's what convinces me he will be okay."

Smith broke his leg against Liverpool, eight days before the final, and Ferguson had to ask Ryan Giggs and John O'Shea to play in central midfield against Wigan.

Ferguson said: "Wayne Rooney got man of the match but Ryan Giggs was absolutely fantastic. It was a mature and controlled performance. We needed the experience Ryan can give.

"No player has gone up and down that line in the Premier League like Ryan has. He's done it for 13 years. No player is anywhere near that."

Rooney scored twice and Louis Saha and Cristiano Ronaldo were also on target for United, who left top scorer Ruud van Nistelrooy on the bench.

Ferguson said: "I explained to Ruud that Louis Saha deserved his chance in the final. Ruud really only came into the competition in the second leg of the semi-final.

"I preferred to play with two up and preferred to have Rooney as the one who drops in behind.

"Van Nistelrooy is the top scorer in the league but it's been Louis Saha in the League Cup. That's six goals. That's some record.

"Ruud seemed fine in the dressing room. He had no problems with that."

Ferguson paid tribute to Paul Jewell's attacking style of football, which made the final an entertaining game.

The Reds manager said: "Four-nil is a bit unfair to Wigan. They had a go and had some chances themselves.

"Paul Jewell's attitude to management creates that. His teams have a go. They are not afraid to have a go. They came to attack and it made for an open game. But if they don't score they can lose goals.

"That was the decisive factor really. Our attacking play was a bit better than their's."

Glazer brothers Ave, Bryan and Joel joined the players in the dressing room after the game.

Ferguson said: "They got soaked in champagne. Welcome to England! A cup is a cup. It's always great to win but it was a great attacking performance. In the moments where we had to defend, we defended very well.

"They had a few good attacking moments. We made some great blocks and Edwin van der Sar made a great save at 1-0. That could have put us back on the edge."